Tucker describes the fine architecture that is found in many of North Carolina's older homes, some dating back to the early 1700s. The highlight in many of them is the exquisitely carved mantel, as well as doorways, winding stairs, and beautiful fireplaces. The names of the men who did the work are long forgotten, and are remembered only through their extant works.

NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson and Chandra, his wife and model, live in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Johnson’s designed their house with the help of a local architect and an interior designer. The house features a blend of traditional architecture with contemporary art.

Daniel Angerstein and Gerald Schultz built their dream home in Stoney Mountain, outside Hendersonville, North Carolina. Angerstein is a pipe organ builder by trade and plays both piano and organ; Schultz is an artist and singer. Their house was designed and decorated to reflect their artistic and musical talents, and to accommodate in-house performances and events.

Older residents of North Carolina are embracing the tiny house movement. Many people have designed and built their tiny houses out of shipping containers. The low cost, portability, and small size make an ideal home for people who are retired, or wish to live close to or within a family member’s residence.

The American Wood Council has built a 1978 Idea House in Raleigh combining new uses of wood in construction with the dignity and charm of early American architecture. The house, which is open to the public, was designed to duplicate a colonial period home in Deerfield, Massachusetts, the Dwight-Bernard house. The house illustrates the durability and versatility of wood.